What Does A Detective Agency Do? 7 Oct 2024 3:47 AM (7 months ago)
There is a recurring stereotype of a private detective agency and the mystery surrounding what does a Detective Agency do?
Add to this the extensive TV programmes both fictional and true life, that suggest that anything is possible. It’s not. Private Investigators often referred to as Private Detectives are limited to the information that can be legally obtained, it is only the Investigator that has kept up to date with techniques, information sources available and pure tenacity that can give a successful outcome. This often pushes the most experienced Private
Add to this the extensive TV programmes both fictional and true life, that suggest that anything is possible. It’s not. Private Investigators often referred to as Private Detectives are limited to the information that can be legally obtained, it is only the Investigator that has kept up to date with techniques, information sources available and pure tenacity that can give a successful outcome. This often pushes the most experienced Private Detective taking many hours of skills.
There is a fallacy that a Detective Agency provides a service that only prioritises cases of infidelity or missing persons.
However, whilst these two operations constitute very important aspects of our responsibility, the range of services that we offer at Insight Investigations are actually more diverse and cover the whole spectrum of the private detective industry, available to private, commercial and legal clients throughout the UK.
Check out some of our other frequently asked questions.
Investigation services that we assist clients with on a regular basis include, but are not limited to;
- Legal Appeals
- Criminal Defence
- Background Checks
- Company Fraud
- Competitor Profiling
- Due Diligence Investigations
- Employee Absenteeism
- Employee Misconduct
- Employee Theft Investigations
- Identity Theft
- Infidelity Issues
- Internet Dating Fraud
- Nanny Watch
- Pre-nuptial Investigation
- Co-habitation Evidence
- Process Servers
- Stalker Investigations
- Tracing Missing Persons
- Unfaithful Partner investigations
A Private Detective is also often referred to as a Private Investigator, often shortened to PI, a term adopted from America. Other terms used include Enquiry Agent and private eye.
A private detective can have a long and exciting career providing services to clients, however anyone with a desire to enter the profession needs to remain realistic that conducting investigations requires long hours, tenacity, certain skill sets, with an enquiring mind and won’t bring you massive financial rewards.
Insight Investigations have both male and female detectives, many from a service background. Others who have been investigators for many years, with the diversity and experience that brings. They all have their individual skills, and bring a broad range of knowledge to the agency, which in turn benefits its clients from using an established detective agency.
A private detective can have a varied work schedule from day to day, that can range from long hours sitting waiting for movement whilst on a surveillance for a commercial theft investigation, to door knocking looking to establish the whereabouts of a long lost friend or relative.
During the course of an investigation, a private detective will need to think on their feet and will often come up against a wide range of circumstances that they need to react quickly upon.
This can be, which vehicle do they follow now the subjects of the investigation have parted company, (which is where teamwork and working alongside fellow private detectives in a surveillance team with communications back-up is invaluable), to collating evidence and leads obtained during the course of an on-line investigation.
Conducting Corporate Investigations
At Insight Investigations we have the experience and expertise to help you solve that difficult corporate issue. Whether you want us to deliver comprehensive competitor profiling or you want to ensure due diligence, at Insight Investigations we are ideal partners to help you achieve that all important competitive edge, and ensure that you thrive in a corporate environment that is free from problems or reprisals.
Private Investigations
We are also renowned for our traditional detective agency services, and therefore should you be a private client we will be able to offer you a wide range of services, therefore a good place to turn to, to help resolve a variety of personal issues, whether it be relationship investigations or missing person investigations. At Insight Investigations we have all the technology and skills to give you every chance of reaching a positive solution.
The methods that our private detectives will employ to help you resolve a private or commercial issue include some of the following:
Video evidence
We will always endeavour to gain video evidence during our investigations, wherever this is legally possible or would not compromise an investigation which will obviously help you when your investigation is complete, to achieve the ultimate outcome you wanted.
Vehicle Tracking
We will use the latest in technology for live vehicle tracking, if the circumstances of law allow, ensuring effective surveillance of the target subject throughout the operation.
On-line and social media
Even given all the advice and warnings to the general public about revealing too much information on social media, if you know how to look, and what to look for, much information can be gained in an open-source environment. Sometimes digging a little deeper, whilst staying within the confines of UK law.
Information sources
Over the past few years, and the toughening of laws such as the DPA and GDPR, many ethical private detectives are now limited to sources of information. The benefit of employing a professional private detective means that we can gain access to information not generally available to the general public, to assist a case. Knowing where to look in open-source material can be half the battle.
Therefore employing a professional private detective to get the job done, with the minimum of fuss, within a timescale and budget that you are comfortable with can be the reassurance you need to look beyond the mystery of what a detective agency does. Insight’s team of award winning experienced private detectives are available 24/7 to discuss your requirements and offer advice on the best way forward. Call us on the number below or use our contact us form.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
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Employee Absenteeism 24 Apr 2024 4:51 AM (last year)
The pandemic changed the working environment beyond recognition some elements of which linger today and that includes the prevalence of employee absenteeism. In a time where greater flexibility is expected by employees, being able to control when and how people are working is becoming increasingly difficult and putting HR teams and small businesses under huge pressures.
Insight Investigations have seen an increase in employers who, whilst wanting to remain focused on the needs of their staff during periods of time working from home, they also need to ensure from an economical viewpoint that staff members are not taking advantage.
In a pre-pandemic world employee absenteeism was confined to team members taking unnecessary sick days, but now the issue has become much bigger. Now the breadth of absenteeism and the ease in which employees can take time away from their desks and their attention off the job at hand plus the work from home (WFH), flexi and hybrid work programmes.
At Insight Investigations we have helped businesses identify absenteeism within the workforce for many years and have seen a increase in cases since the pandemic. For those employers who are adopting WFH, flexi or hybrid working policies, they are dealing with remotely managing teams and are completely in the dark as to when staff are at their desk, tuned in and working and when they’re otherwise engaged in personal matters at home.
But it’s not just at home working that is causing issues for employers, COVID19 created a wealth of excuses for employees to not come to work or take a few hours out of the day. Team members often cited COVID19 related reasons for missing work which given the severity of the implications if employers did not take notice of this, were too hard and irresponsible to ignore, even if they did give rise to suspicion. However times have changed and the desire for a return to “normal” working.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
- When it comes to employee absenteeism, there are several tactics which can be adopted by you the business owner or manager to try and nip absenteeism in the bud before it gets to the level where a private investigator would need to be engaged with.
- Some potential areas to look at.
Employee motivation
One of the biggest ways to tackle employee absenteeism is to keep employees motivated. This could be through a number of HR initiatives from simply taking the time and effort to plan their career trajectory, regular reviews and pay rises, staff benefits and bonuses as well as social activities which make work a pleasurable part of life. We often find that businesses which don’t put their needs and wants of their team members first, often have the biggest employee absenteeism issues.
Clear WFH guidelines
In this new age of working, it’s important for businesses both big and small to set clear boundaries and processes when it comes to working from home. Employees often find that structured processes help them to manage change. It’s the responsibility of the employer to spend the time and resource planning guidelines and processes which work for the entire workforce. In terms of communicating those processes and guidelines to teams it can be helpful to clearly state what’s expected and provide an employee handbook (printed or digital) which employees can refer to. In addition it can be helpful to host briefings with employees to explain the processes and then regular check-ins on how things are going.
Flexible working programmes
In this day and age employers must move with the times and if they refuse to change with a new modern working world, that rigidity will cause them to lose employee loyalty and can lead to high levels of employee absenteeism. Flexible and hybrid working allows employees to have a better work life balance, many employees now actively look for this as part of their package and if you don’t provide that flexibility, another company will.
If you are still concerned that you are experiencing high and consistent levels of employee absenteeism, you can speak with one of our investigators about how to tackle this. Our experienced corporate team, who have helped assist in thousands of employee absenteeism cases, can help to identify the issues and tackle the issue head on.
Establish the best next steps and get to the facts of the matter by calling one of our specialist teams on the number below or use our contact form 24/7 for a free consultation.
24/7 Help & Advice
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What can a private investigators legally do in the UK? 24 Apr 2024 4:43 AM (last year)
A private investigator in the UK, is able to assist their client in obtaining the information they need to resolve questions or issues they may have. In the UK, a reputable and trustworthy Private Investigator like you will find at Insight Investigations, will follow the rules of the laws that we are governed by in the UK.
Law abiding Private Investigators are usually the ones that have been around for many, many years. Out in the public domain, and not hiding behind fake or multiple websites.
It is fair to say that over the past 25 years the Private Investigation Industry has changed, almost beyond recognition, in terms of what services are available to its clients’, and the laws that govern this in the UK in 2024.
Relative Law (UK)
THE REGULATION OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS ACT 2000
Does apply to private investigators engaged by a local government authority or public body.
THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 2018
Any data obtained from a GPS Electronic Tracking Device capable of identifying an individual’s location or activities is deemed to be personal data by the DPA.
TRESPASS
Civil trespass by directly entering upon another’s land without permission, or remains when requested to leave.
HARASSMENT & STALKING
A kind of harassment. Such as prolonged or persistent or attempts to
Contact a complainant
HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998 (HRA)
A court is bound to take the HRA into account in Trials.
The private investigation industry comes under much scrutiny with few people knowing exactly what private investigators can legally do in the UK? Unfortunately it is not as portrayed on screen that has an element of theatre about it.
With UK law, some say we are left with grey areas in what sits on the right and wrong side of legal.
Private Investigation is an industry that takes self-regulation very seriously and many investigators welcome more stringent laws and guidelines. Insight Investigations have signed to the Joint WAPI-IPI-UKPIN Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct to ensure our clients receive a professional and trustworthy service.
Finding a Private Investigator that is a member of a trade association, is usually a good indication of the rules they follow, as they will be bound by codes of conduct governed by the association.
Whilst the law does leave a lot up to interpretation, a trusted and reputable private investigation agency will have the knowledge and experience to stay within UK law, keeping all parties safe in terms of both ethics and physical safety.
This is why it’s imperative that if you are seeking out a private investigator to work with you, that you choose wisely and don’t work with non established agencies who can often adopt rogue practices in order to turn a profit.
If you are at a point in life or faced with a situation where you feel working with a private investigator could be worth it, then it’s important you understand the parameters in which an investigator can operate. This way you are entering into things with eyes wide open which will help result in the best outcome, and keep you on the right side of the law.
Background Checks
With the growing popularity in online dating, where the person on the end of the app or dating site is a relative stranger, the need for more information about the people we are becoming romantically involved with is becoming increasingly important. We often get calls from individuals who want to understand more about someone they are chatting to through dating apps or even in more severe cases, from concerned friends and parents where alarm bells are ringing for some reason.
In this instance we would often recommend background checks and a deeper dive into that person’s history, however it’s important to know that not all background checks and information can be obtained by private investigators. A number of public records can be obtained in order to form the basis of a background check but what’s crucial here is the expertise of an investigator to piece together the wider picture. Taking public records, looking at social media, known contacts, online behaviours and many other elements to build up a full picture of the person you are dealing with.
Sometimes these background checks can be the difference between life or death, in one of our cases this was unfortunately the case. When our client, being a concerned mother contacted us because she was concerned about the wellbeing of her daughter and her new boyfriend, we recommended a series of background checks and research into the subject, this research led to offender being arrested and charged for various offences including arson and harassment, being sentenced to a minimum of 6 years in prison – you can read the full case study here.
Tracing
There can be a whole array of situations where the use of “tracing” can be hugely beneficial. This is an extremely specialist area of investigation and an area that Insight Investigations has a team of specialists who deal in these types of cases, who have been practicing and enhancing their skills for over 30 Years.
The need to locate someone can range from finding birth parents, long lost relatives, finding a missing person, and debtor tracing. In the case of missing persons we often find that we work on historic missing person cases and our advice would always be to contact the police if someone has just gone missing.
When tracing someone, there’s a number of different areas that our in-house team will investigate, social media profile and footprint, address searches, land registry, company director information, voter registration as well as public and business records, together with some criminal records and court documents. It is often the skill of knowing how and where to look at open-source information that a reliable, experienced and tenacious Private Investigator succeeds.
Surveillance
Surveillance is a hotly debated topic but is completely legal here in the UK. What is important to any reputable investigator is that the surveillance whether commercial or private, is conducted with the utmost respect, dignity and within a code of ethics. Following the UK privacy laws.
That’s why working with an investigation agency that has a dedicated team of specialists, for covert surveillance, often ex-army or police force, who have been expertly trained in this area, is imperative.
Covert Surveillance can be hugely beneficial and no matter what emerging technology can offer, often the most robust evidence of a situation is the presentation of evidence, backup by testimony should the case proceed to court.
Although these are just three of the most debated areas of investigation – as to their legality – there are a whole list of services that can be offered by an experienced and reputable investigation agency. Whether you are a commercial organisation or private individual you can find a list of completely legal services on our website and can rest easy in the knowledge that with our 30 years’ experience and highly trained agents, not only do our services fall within the legal parameters of UK law, but are conducted in the most ethical way also.
If you would like to speak to one of our investigators about a situation you are currently faced with or feel we could assist, even for just advice, then please contact us on the below number or via our contact form 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a completely free and confidential consultation.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
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Is it legal to hire an investigator in the UK 24 Apr 2024 4:06 AM (last year)
We are often asked – is it legal to hire a private investigator in the UK? And the simple answer is “yes” it is.
Legal private investigations within the UK, can often be just the start to uncovering the truth to assist in a difficult situation.
Current media reports have again bought in question What can a Private Investigator actually do legally in the UK. There is wide speculation on this. There is little point in conducting an investigation where the evidence is obtained illegally, putting clients at risk. Regardless of how keen a client is to obtain this information.
There are many services that UK Private Investigators can provide, and most reputable agencies cover the whole spectrum of investigations, backed by many years of experience.
However, what services a Private Investigator can offer legally, by staying within the law in the UK, in 2024, is where confusion can often arise.
When speaking to Insight our Private Investigators will be able to guide you to the best possible solution to resolving a situation, giving honest advice.
24/7 Help & Advice
Unfortunately, when we hear the words private investigator many people think of Magnum PI, Sherlock Holmes, or even Strike, Vincent and Shakespeare & Hathaway, but these lovable characters are a huge misrepresentations of what a private investigator can do within the parameters of UK law.
The services we see on TV such as trespassing, phone tapping, computer hacking or obtaining personal records are highly illegal. However, there is a huge array of tactics and methods a private investigator can adopt to obtain the information needed without breaking any laws and ensuring no breach of human rights or data protection.
It should be remembered here that there are those who actually ‘haven’t been caught yet’ and therefore have no adverse Criminal record, yet a discreet but thorough investigation can unearth any amount of anti-social or illegal behaviour.
There are roughly 10,000 private investigators operating in the UK yet less than 2,000 have voluntarily signed up to be part of an industry body such as WAPI, ABI or IPI. Therefore, it’s vital that if you do find yourself hiring a private investigator, you find an agency that knows the intricacies of UK law, operates within those laws and has the skill set to legally and responsibly obtain the information that’s needed to help with your investigation.
A reputable private investigator that has voluntarily signed up to be part of a peer-to peer trade body (WAPI, ABI, IPI) will also operate under a strict ethical code. Insight Investigations have signed to the Joint WAPI-IPI-UKPIN Code of Ethics & Professional Conduct
Insight Investigations are proud members of W.A.P. I – The World Association of Professional Investigators. Membership to the association comes after thorough vetting. Together with following the strict code of conduct.
When dealing in such personal and private matters which involve people’s lives, it’s essential to have a strong moral compass and only take on Investigations where there has been a clear wrongdoing, or where employing an investigator to get to the truth of a situation will benefit the client, with no malice intended.
Misuse of private investigator services is something that we at Insight Investigations are highly aware of and all of our investigators are trained to assess each case thoroughly and make the call as to whether it should be taken on and progressed.
So what is and isn’t legal? We asked our senior investigator Tony to break down the do’s and don’ts both legally and ethically of obtaining information for a case.
Official records
Accessing someone’s criminal, medical, banking or financial history is strictly illegal and highly unethical. Instead, to try and build up a picture of someone’s history and their previous actions, our dedicated researchers are trained to review and unpick publicly available records, online searches and social media. Using a wide variety of public records enables us to piece together a full picture of a person to alleviate any fears or concerns.
We might be working for someone who is concerned about a new love interest of a family member and would just like to know a little more to protect the person they love. Building a fully rounded picture of that person is often more helpful than simply knowing whether they have any previous convictions.
Clients can sometimes think this is something that’s easily done themselves, but we’ve spent years building relationships with local court houses, registry offices and libraries where these documents are often held. We also subscribe and pay membership fees to online legal aggregators of public records which grants us access to things not readily available to the general public. There’s also a huge amount of public information available, it’s just knowing where to look and how to analyse the information in front of us.
Phone and computer hacking
It is both illegal and unethical to hack someone’s phone or computer and this is not a service that any reputable private investigator would offer. Be wary of any private investigator who offers products such as apps and programmes for electronic equipment designed to hack information. Not only are they breaking the law, selling you this type of equipment, you are also breaking the law when using it. Often this type of software, is in fact a scam and we find ourselves regularly helping clients who have been ripped off by rogue investigators selling software that simply doesn’t work.
At Insight Investigations we take a different approach. There are several tactics which we adopt to get to the truth of a situation such as highly skilled surveillance teams carrying out public monitoring of a suspect or legally placed GPS car tracking of that suspect. Both of which can ascertain the same sort of information completely within the law.
Trespassing
Under no circumstances should a private investigator enter into a private home or workplace without permission. No matter how important the case, this is trespassing in the eyes of UK law and also completely unethical. All of our investigations are done in public places or using public records and information.
After all, Clients must be advised that evidence obtained illegally, irrespective of its value, will likely be challenged at Court and disallowed and could harm your case irreparably.
Every case is unique and every situation needs a tailored approach from a trained, experienced investigator. For a free consultation with one of our team about your own personal situation, you can contact us 24 hours a day seven days a week on the number below, or fill out our contact form here.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
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What Private Investigators do 13 Jul 2023 3:22 AM (last year)
What Private Investigators do is utilise their skills to obtain evidence by uncovering the truth of a situation by gathering evidence for their clients.
Private Investigators in the UK assist clients in finding the answers to questions, skills, that will have been developed over many years, assisting clients in legal, commercial and private matters.
Being a successful Private Investigator in todays world, not only requires the investigator to be fully conversant with current legislation surrounding the evidence they obtain and how it is obtained, but this needs to be matched by tenacity and a duty to their client to obtain that information in a lawful manner.
In the digital age we live in, most information is at our fingertips, many clients that come to us will have consulted the “google” assistant. A good investigator will know how to access information from years of experience, within the confines of the law, that goes beyond these initial searches.
Usually information that is readily available needs to be backed up by diligent investigation to get to the truth of the matter, usually with many avenues fully investigated before a conclusion is arrived at.
Private Investigators have a diverse role in a modern society, assisting clients in a wide range of services, giving their expertise, resourcefulness and dedication to finding the truth of a situation.
Successful private Investigators have the resources required to conduct a wide range of investigations that are available to private individuals, commercial businesses, lawyers and official organisations.
Just some of the services below are examples of what a private investigator can do.
- Background Checks
- Tracing Enquiries
- On-Line Dating Fraud
- Vehicle and Asset Tracing
- Relationship Investigations
- Investigating an unfaithful partner
- Employee Theft Investigations
- Employee Absenteeism
- Employee Misconduct
- Due Diligence Investigations
- Commercial Surveillance
- Criminal Defence
- Pre-marriage investigations
- Tracing Birth Parents
- Relationship surveillance
By speaking with one of our experienced investigators we will be able to guide you through.
24/7 Help & Advice
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Is it worth hiring a Private Detective? 3 Feb 2022 11:45 PM (3 years ago)
You may be faced with a situation and find yourself asking – is it worth hiring a private Detective? We often find that our clients, whether that be private or commercial, are apprehensive when they first speak to one of our Private Detectives. The cause of that apprehension is often because the world of private investigation and Private Detectives has a particular reputation, mainly due to TV shows and films which have built a truly unrealistic and sometimes negative image of the industry.
Together with some bad press over the years, souring non affiliate investigators.
The question to ask yourself when weighing up whether to hire a private detective is whether the information you need to get to the bottom of a situation is something that a private detective can legally and ethically do within UK Law.
To help you answer this question we have set out just a few of the methods and tactics which are legal to carry out within the UK and what these services can you help you determine across a number of different scenarios.
Surveillance
Surveillance is one of the oldest and most trusted methods of private investigation. Although the development of technology offers many ways to monitor and assess a situation, the most impartial, unbiased way to do this is with a team of experienced and highly trained private detectives who will monitor and report back on a particular subject and the situation.
Surveillance can help get to the truth of a situation in many different scenarios including a partner being unfaithful, employee absenteeism, investigating the truth of an insurance claim or even patent and copyright infringement.
For a full explanation of how surveillance can help and whether it is worth hiring a private investigator to conduct this type of service, visit our dedicated surveillance team page.
Vehicle Tracking
There are many different types of vehicle tracking services which can be adopted depending on the circumstance. In essence though vehicle tracking can be used in a wide range of situations.
Vehicle tracking can help get to the truth of a situation such as employee theft in terms of tracking objects or goods to understand breaches of supply chain, or even understanding where your partner may be at a particular moment, however it’s important to understand only in certain scenarios can vehicle tracking be used in personal, non-commercial situations.
For a full explanation of how vehicle tracking can help and whether it is worth hiring a private investigator to conduct this type of service visit our dedicated vehicle tracking service page.
Searching for a missing person or locating long lost relatives of birth parents
Using private investigators to trace a missing person or in fact a long lost relative can be an incredibly effective use of an agency such as Insight Investigations. These cases are often highly sensitive and unfortunately not a priority for many police forces. Therefore, hiring your own investigation team can often lead to extremely positive results, as hiring a dedicated team of experts to make it their sole purpose to find the person in question means that the right minds are using the right resources to provide you with the truth to your situation.
For a full explanation of how tracing services can help and whether it is worth hiring a private investigator to conduct this type of service visit our dedicated tracing missing persons service page.
Assisting in identify theft
Being the victim of identity theft can be an incredibly traumatic and an emotional turn of events. Once again this is an area of law enforcement where there isn’t a huge amount of support for victims of this type of crime. However, what hangs in the balance for those who have their identity stolen is huge – it can stop them from obtaining a mortgage, put them into bad credit making things like car finance or even obtaining a mobile phone contract near impossible. Finding a way to track down the person behind stealing your identity and blackening your credit is something that our dedicated identity theft team can assist with. This information can then be handed over to the authorities so they can pursue it further.
For a full explanation of how private investigations can help in situations of identity theft and whether it is worth hiring a private detective to conduct this type of service visit our dedicated identify theft services page.
What is unequivocally NOT legal and should never be used as methods of investigation
Now that we understand a bit more about the services available and in what situations these tactics would be employed, it’s equally as important to know what services are highly illegal and should be avoided at all costs from both a legal and ethical point of view.
Services such as phone tapping, setting up listening devices in a home or vehicle not owned by yourself are highly illegal. One of the most asked for services in our matrimonial department is the use of technology which can be downloaded onto a partner’s phone and used to intercept messages and calls – often to prove infidelity.
This sort of software is highly illegal, to both sell to a customer and to use as a consumer and should always be avoided, unless you are the owner.
Should you want to speak with one of our specialist team about whether hiring a private Detective is right for you – you can call us on the below number or via our contact form 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a completely free and confidential consultation.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
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Infidelity: how to tell if your partner is being unfaithful 30 Jan 2022 2:17 AM (3 years ago)
Finding out your partner is being unfaithful can be a devastating blow, but for most people knowing is better than not knowing. With the modern world providing advances in technology and more opportunity than ever, how can you know if your loved one is trustworthy?
Asking a Private Investigator to help you is usually the most effective method, this can alleviate doubt, and guide you through the many pitfalls of finding out alone.
As Private Investigators this is one of the many services we offer and is one of the most frequently asked questions, when people call us for help and advice. Insight Investigations offers a wide range of services on relationship investigations to help people get to the truth. Speaking with one of our experienced male or female investigators can help determine the best course of action to give you piece of mind. Our advice is free.
Suspect your partner is being unfaithful? Let us help you find out
There are some observations to look out for which will help us to determine whether there is cause for closer inspection. Our team of relationship investigators have selected the top five behaviours to look out for, based on cumulatively working on tens of thousands of infidelity cases over the years.
The most common tell-tale signs are:
- More secretive with phone and social media
- Change in personal grooming
- Changes in mood and behaviour
- More distant with less physical contact
- Increased work patterns or new hobby/reason to leave the house
Insight Investigations annually produces a list of the most common behaviours adopted by a cheating partner, taking into consideration the ever advancing modern world in which we now live, technological evolution and societal trends combined with analysis of case files from real infidelity cases where we have provided assistance and support to the betrayed partner.
Some of the easy to identify behaviours that your partner is being unfaithful are consistent across both male and female partners but there are some very subtle differences between a woman and man’s behavioural patterns when being unfaithful.
Each of the behaviours mentioned below have been a trigger behaviour reported in the initial case briefing of one or more cases in the last year, however it’s worth saying that the presence of one or more of these signs does not categorically mean that your partner is being unfaithful.
It can often be best to discuss your fears with a professional and you can speak to one of Insight Investigations’ relationship investigators 24/7 for a free consultation.
Ready to know the truth? Book a free consultation now
20 Signs your male partner is being unfaithful
Or jump to 20 Signs your female partner is being unfaithful
Two phones
Although two phones are needed in some work situations, where an employer requests personal and work phones are kept separate, this can often be a real giveaway that a partner is being unfaithful. Especially when a work phone is kept close by at all times or the passcode closely protected.
If your partner is keeping a work phone close by in the evenings, at weekends or even taking it on holiday then this could be cause for concern.
Phone on silent
The thing about modern technology is that it can have a nasty habit of intruding into your life when it’s not wanted. Take for example a text from someone you are having an affair with, not only does it ‘ping’ when the text arrives but it also stays visible on the screen even if you have your phone locked. If your partner often has their phone set to silent this could be a sign they are hiding something and you should stay alert to other behaviours.
Similarly, if your partner has set their notifications to not preview the message and simply show the name of the text or WhatsApp message this can also be a sign they are hiding something they do not wish you to see.
There are also many advances with people using alternative communications methods such as Telegram which can be hidden on a phone, or using a VPN to disguise online activity. Both of these can easily be installed on a mobile. Faking GPS locations is also on the increase if you are trying to hide where you are. Further information on Faking GPS locations is here.
Different ringtone or text tone
Many of the older generation (and by that, we mean anyone who owned an NEC P3, or Nokia 3210) never change their ringtone. In fact, most people over a certain age either don’t want to or don’t know how to change their ringtone.
Contrast that with younger users who according to one online survey, only 15% leave the factory defaults in place.
Changing ringtones or text tones can mean that you know automatically when a particular person is ringing or texting you which can be a tactic adopted by people who are trying to separate parts of their life.
If your partner has more than one ringtone or text tone, then this could be a sign of infidelity.
Sudden interest in personal grooming
An individuals personal grooming or hygiene habits may change once in a long-term relationship.
Contrast this with having an affair and suddenly people become more fastidious about their personal grooming and will go to great lengths to look good for their new love interest.
More time spent in the bathroom or a sudden interest in grooming products could easily be a sign.
Appears more secretive, particularly with their mobile phone
Whilst technology enables far more ways to have an affair, cheating on your partner does require one thing that technology can’t hide and that is time. It takes time to text or call someone. It takes time to send photos on Snapchat. It takes time to flirt.
If you are in a relationship, finding the time to do this when your partner isn’t looking can be tricky.
If you find that their normal routine is somehow different, especially in the evenings, then this could be a sign they are taking the time to flirt online. Signs, like making unnecessary trips to the shops in the evenings, or even taking their phone to the shower or toilet, can simply be them finding time to contact someone.
More distant, less frequent physical contact
When a partner decides they want to move on, they want to move on. Sometimes this manifests with becoming more aggressive, accusing their partner of infidelity to hide their own indiscretion or generally changing their behaviour to force the party to confront the situation.
In these circumstances, they will want to spend less time with you, will be resentful of having to be around you and won’t show the same degree of affection that they once did.
A diminishing of affection is not, in itself, a sign. After all, when people have been together for years this can be a natural evolution of a relationship. However add it to another suspicious behaviour and there could be reason to suspect infidelity.
Infrequent love making or new bedroom behaviours
If they are finding excuses to avoid intimate contact with you the this could be a sign that things are not right and that they are fulfilling this part of their life elsewhere.
Equally, we have seen in some cases that an increased libido which spills over into the long term relationship, even trying out new “techniques” or “moves”. If your partner suddenly changes their behaviour in the bedroom without it being previously discussed or requested this can be a tell-tale sign that they are being unfaithful.
Nights out with “friends”
Generally, people love to go out; it’s in their DNA to meet and bond with friends. There’s nothing wrong with this unless it becomes more frequent than it once was.
Sudden urges to unexpectedly meet with friends for a “quick pint”, “quick catch-up” or coming home late after stopping out with their friends and in some cases regular excuses of sleeping over at a friend’s house after a night out.
There are legitimate reasons for men to do this and there are times in their lives when a new group or crowd will mean they are out more often. Ultimately if you find yourself sat at home and have no ideas where they are or what they are doing then this could be a sign.
Especially if when they return home, instead of being nice to you to make up for all the time they spent away they turn on you and make out that you are somehow trying to control them, the alarm bells should ring.
Unusual shower times – late at night
People can be creatures of habit. They do the same things at the same times most days. Most men will shower either morning or evening and the same with shaving.
If they suddenly feel the urge to shower more frequently or change the time when they are showering and shaving you might need to ask the reason why.
Sudden interest in loading the washing machine
If your partner has never shown any interest in contributing to doing household washing and then suddenly wants to wash their own clothes this could be considered a sign. People having affairs or cheating on their partner through one-night stands are often incredibly paranoid, and despite best efforts to conceal and traces left behind, they may want to be in control of emptying out pockets and handling their washing. It can also be playing on their mind to ensure that you the long-term partner doesn’t notice any smells or stains on their clothes that shouldn’t be there.
So, if your partner who has rarely showed any interested in doing the washing, suddenly wants to load the washing machine more, this can be cause for suspicion.
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Working later for no apparent reason
One of the oldest and most regularly seen signs that your partner is being unfaithful. Sometimes your partner can in fact be in the office and this isn’t a cover up for going somewhere else with the person they are having an affair with. Sometimes it’s as simple as an extra half hour or hour at work to text or chat to the person they are having an affair with.
Smell
Much underrated, smell is actually a classic tell-tale sign.
Everyone has a smell. Researchers have known this for some time and companies have peddled the magic’ pheromone’ scents for years.
A 2016 report however in Psychology Today, shed some more light on this subject. Their research suggested that women can detect genetic compatibility by smell (but men can’t) and with nostrils that sensitive then they are very likely to notice a change in a man’s smell.
Men smell differently when they have been with a woman who wears a different perfume to you and they definitely smell different when they have engaged in sexual acts with another person.
So, as well as keeping your eyes and ears open, next time keep your nose alert for tell-tale changes in your partner’s smell.
Social Media
Ubiquitous in modern life, most people have some form of a social media profile.
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat; they can all tell a story if you look hard enough.
As a Private Investigator, this is one of the easiest and most obvious things to check. Although it is unlikely that your partner is going to post pictures of their infidelity on social media (although it has happened!) it can give some interesting clues to follow up.
Take a look at their images they are posting, do you know where they are and who they are with? Are there any new faces you haven’t seen before? What about the locations? Do you recognise where they are and who they are with?
Text messages folder is empty.
Who deletes their text messages? Most of the time men can’t be bothered, unless of course, it’s impinging on the phone’s memory in which case a clean out is a priority!
Most men simply don’t delete texts and as such, if you can see their phone then you can see their life played out in full detail. Therefore an empty text message folder could well be a sign they are up to something secretive.
Passwords and logins have changed
If you used to be able to get into your partner’s phone, computer, tablet or other device and suddenly you find you can’t then you might need to start asking why.
And if your partner is spending more time with just one of the devices, more than might be considered usual, then this could be a sign.
They have less money than usual
Often overlooked, a lack of funds can be a signal that something has changed. If your partner is someone who always has money on them or has the ability to take money out of the bank when they want, then suddenly announcing that they have no cash might raise a few questions.
Now it could be (and we did find this in one case) that a husband had been putting money aside for over a year just to pay for a surprise holiday for his wife. Sadly however, this is often not the case.
Quite often at the start of a new relationship, there will be a display of affection and this often manifests itself in the form of gifts. Whilst his new girlfriend may be able to hide a pair of diamond earrings or a necklace from their partner (assuming both parties are in a relationship) hiding the absence of funds in the bank account is a lot harder.
You don’t see any of the bank statements
Leading on from the point above, if you have a joint account and are used to being able to access that account and see the statements, the sudden absence of statements in the house might be a signal.
Banks make it easy these days to switch off paper statements but this can often leave the other partner in the dark.
Details like where and when cash has been withdrawn from cash points can be an indicator, especially if they were not supposed to be there at that time.
Location services are switched off
Most mobile phones these days are equipped with some form of Geo-location device and unless you specify otherwise in settings, often it is enabled by default.
Men, being tech savvy in the main, are very adept at switching this off.
Given that pretty much all the apps these days require it switched on to work properly (think Facebook or any of the map apps as an example) then when it is switched off you need to ask why.
The browser history is regularly deleted, or private browsing is the default
Internet browsers by default always keep a history of which websites you have visited. 90% of people never consider this and as such, they never delete their browsing history.
An empty browsing history should be a sign for concern.
Similarly, most browsers allow you to surf in private mode so if your partner has spent hours on the computer, but when you check the browsing history it shows nothing, then there is something that is being hidden.
You “feel” that something is not quite right
Often underrated and regularly ignored in the early stages of an affair, the good old fashioned ‘gut feeling’ is usually right.
Trust your gut instincts and if something feels wrong, it probably is.
Jump to 20 Signs your male partner is being unfaithful
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20 Signs your female partner is being unfaithful
Her phone is locked
You’ve previously had access to her phone or at least you’ve known the code for opening it. Most couples know this about their partner as a lot of the codes are simple and often reused across other devices.
Suddenly you find her password has changed on phone and access to other things that you previously could see has also been restricted. It could be just that she is security conscious and following best practice guidelines for changing passwords on a regular basis. Or not.
There’s a change in predictable behaviour.
When couples are in a relationship they develop routines which even if not immediately obvious to the rest of us, are there nonetheless. As a partner you know these routines and if there’s a sudden change or even a more subtle change over the course of a couple of weeks, this could be a sign.
Their Phone bill shows more calls and messages to a certain number
Mobile phone bills can be a great source of information; if you can get to them. These days most of them are hidden online with password protection.
If you can see them then a quick sign is an increase in the monthly cost. If people pay more than the standard tariff each month it is often because more pictures are being sent. A new relationship is often a time when this sort of thing happens.
Change in weight or appearance and going to the gym more
Women commit infidelity in very different ways. Men tend to simply take the opportunity when it arises whereas women as more selective. They typically look for someone ‘better’ than their partner, or as it has been described, “Women are more likely to cheat up, while men are more likely to cheat around.”
This explains why a woman who is having an affair will often take more interest in her physical appearance and perhaps try to lose weight, change the way they look with fillers or other enhancements and even change the way they dress.
With a massive 75% of women saying that they have been unfaithful because they were having problems in their relationships, a change in appearance when coupled with other signs could be a key indicator.
Change in musical tastes
We all tend to like the music we like and this doesn’t change very often. Sure, there are new bands that come and go and our musical tastes can vary but if you are into classical music you are unlikely to start listing to AC/DC.
If you find that you’re noticing new bands or playlists, with wildly different music genres on Apple Music or Spotify, or even perhaps a CD or USB song with playlists on, this could be a real sign of infidelity.
Being vague on things, like ‘I can’t remember?’
The way men and women respond to direct questioning about suspicions can often be very different. Men tend to give excuses or reasoning whereas women will be much more vague and try to dodge the issue. Under pressure, they are more than likely to claim no knowledge of the time, place, situation or person in question.
Unless they normally suffer from a poor memory, then an inability to recall events and people might be a sign that they can actually remember, but are choosing not to share that information with you.
A pronounced need for privacy
Everyone needs a bit of privacy, but when you are in a relationship you open up and let your partner into your life. Secrets may still exist but not as many as before; after all, if this person is your ‘best friend’ then you share most things with that person.
A sudden desire for more ‘me’ time or the need to be alone is often a sign that your female partner is shutting you out of her life and this can be a sign that something deeper is going on.
A change in sexual intercourse frequency
Possibly one of the most common signs, there is a change in the frequency of intercourse.
Contrary to common belief this doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction; sometimes it can be an increase. After all, what better way to hide infidelity than by having more frequent sex? Most partners on the receiving end of this would be grateful for the opportunity and therefore be unlikely to complain. But it could simply be a way of hiding an increase in a woman’s libido because of flirting, or more, with a new partner.
You can’t see her bills
Much like male partners and their phone bills and bank statements, women are also adept at hiding changes in their financial position from their partner.
If you could see her phone bill before and bank statements but these suddenly aren’t obvious or available this could be a sign. Much like men, women having an affair will be going places, spending money and making calls that they rather their partner didn’t know about.
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Talking a lot about her new “friend” at work
Many relationships start in the workplace. This is logical because in today’s modern environment you are more likely to meet and spend time with someone in the workplace than almost anywhere else.
Spending time with the person they are attracted to at work isn’t in itself a problem, however these work relationships and friendships can often turn into something more.
One sign could be that your female partner may discuss a co-worker more and how they are good at what they do, how funny they are or just generally mentioning how they make office life enjoyable.
Turning phone location on and off frequently.
Men aren’t the only ones to be tech savvy. Most millennials have grown up very adept at phone technology and can use a variety of apps and services available on any standard smartphone.
We have seen just as many men and women disable location services when they visit their lover and then re-enable it when they are back in a location. Were it not for close surveillance it would have been hard to prove where they had been.
Most people have no need or desire to frequently turn on and off the location services on their phone. If your female partner is doing so then this could be a sign.
Matching underwear
Men and women alike can relax their behaviour when they are in a long term relationship.
At the start of a relationship, most women will make an effort to ensure that bra and knickers both match with sexy underwear sets favoured over large knickers and plain bras. Once in a relationship, this can change to just making sure that they don’t show through the clothing they are wearing.
If your female partner suddenly changes to wearing matching sets, it may well be because they expect someone else to see them wearing it.
She says your suspicions are nonsense
If you are forward enough to confront a partner with your suspicions, it is likely to go a number of ways. Statistically, women are twice as likely as men to think that their partner suspected them of being unfaithful and in almost half of the cases of infidelity their partner found out the truth.
When confronted, a woman may simply confess (as this brings the whole thing to a head), flatly deny it or quite often, tell you that you are jealous and/or crazy to think that she may be having an affair.
Ironically, in this case, a denial isn’t quite a denial. If it is turned around to accuse the man of being stupid or paranoid it can sometimes be a sign that it really is going on.
Oblivious to the fact her partner has made an effort
Men can often forget to make an effort. It sometimes seems hardwired into their DNA. Once all the thrill of the initial chase has gone it can be all too easy to drop back into a routine.
When a relationship is vulnerable, a partner may have their eyes elsewhere and despite a man’s best efforts, nothing he says or does may be good enough.
If your partner is ignoring your efforts and seems more preoccupied with her social media account or texting her friends, then this can be a sign that she’s having an affair.
Happy to show you her phone and social media accounts
It sounds counterintuitive, but a sudden willingness to show you her email accounts or social media accounts or mobile phone could be a signal.
We investigated a case where this had become the norm and the reason, it turned out, was because the partner was having an affair. What they did though was to clear their phone down on a daily basis so there was nothing untoward to find on their phone.
They came unstuck though when on holiday and their partner checked their phone at a time when normally they would be at work.
They ‘like’ someone’s posts more than others
Astonishingly, according to an online survey, 54% of women have had a one-night stand and 45% of those affairs were with someone their partner knows.
Of course, it makes sense; you meet people as part of a social group, spend time with them and can become attracted to them. Quite often, therefore, an affair tends to be with someone you know or someone who is associated with the same groups of friends or work colleagues.
And as you are all friends there is no reason that you should all be linked on the same social media platforms.
If you look closely, however, you may start to spot a pattern. A woman may be subtly ‘liking’ posts from a particular person more frequently than others. This is not of course, in itself, a sign of infidelity, but it can be a signal that they like that person slightly more than you would expect.
They may post quotes online or refer to things which are out of the normal.
Erratic or unusual behaviour is often quoted as one of the classic signs that someone is having an affair.
These days that can manifest itself solely in the digital environment, with everything else seemingly unchanged.
We have seen cases where women started to post unusual quotes or out of character comments online which were, it turned out, completely at odds with her day-to-day life. To all her friends and family everything seemed normal but the nature and frequency of her posts online betrayed a mental turmoil about the relationship she found herself in and the fact that she was having an affair was causing her to seek release online.
Constantly keeping tabs on her partner.
How many times a day is it normal to keep tabs on your partner’s movements?
Most couples ‘check in’ with each other a few times a day and with so many ways to keep engaged in the digital world it’s quite easy to do this.
In one case we investigated a woman was keeping tabs on her husband up to twenty times a day. Constant texts or phone calls from her were dressed up as being friendly but the reality, as betrayed by the phone calls, was more often than not, she was looking to find out where her husband was.
The irony in this was that this behaviour was so she knew exactly where he was and therefore when it would be safe for her to meet with her lover and have the affair.
If a woman needs to keep a very close eye on you all day every day, perhaps you should ask why?
Emoticons on posts
We all use them in our posts but what does an emoticon really say about you? This post lists ten of the most used emojis by women and what they mean when she is flirting with a man.
If your partner starts to use these in her texts or even posts them on social media platforms you might want to ask her some straight questions about their meaning.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. It’s a list of the signs that we have seen as part of undercover private investigations we have undertaken in the past few years.
The key to all of these investigations that form part of this article is that the signs of infidelity and the reason the unfaithful partner was exposed was often down to their digital footprint.
Wherever you go and whatever you do, modern life finds a way to track your every move.
If you think that your partner may be having an affair and need some help then Investigate.uk offer a professional, discreet service. Contact us in complete confidence on the number below or use our contact form and speak to one of our expert team.
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Stacey Dooley Investigating Stalkers 25 Jan 2022 7:30 AM (3 years ago)
A new BBC documentary featuring Stacey Dooley investigating stalkers has this week aired on UK screens. The hard-hitting yet sensitively made documentary comes at an incredibly apt time, a time when women’s safety is finally and rightly in the spotlight.
Sarah Everard, Sabina Nessa and Ashling Murphy are just three of the women who have been murdered in the past year and these names ring in the ears of every woman as she walks home from work or a night out. In October 2021 it was reported that 81 women were murdered in circumstances where the suspect was a man in just 28 weeks. A shocking statistic but one that has only recently come into focus or started to make national headlines.
Stacey Dooley’s documentary isn’t an easy watch but it is an essential piece of journalism which finally puts the safety and rights of women at the forefront, calling on the government and police forces to do more to protect women.
At Insight Investigations the ever-present threat to women’s safety is something that we are all too familiar with – our specialist stalking team has worked cases similar to those highlighted in the documentary for many years. In particular, the case of Al Amin Dhalla who was convicted of seven offences at Lewes Crown Court in February 2012. Dr Hewitt’s mother, Pam, says that Tony Smith (a senior investigator at Insight Investigations) “helped save my daughter’s life and probably mine as well”.
When Alison’s mother became suspicious of her daughter’s new partner and his haste to get married, she hired Tony to investigate his past. Through skilled investigative work Tony uncovered that Al Almin had a violent past in Canada and had even lied about his criminal record on his Visa application to enter the UK. After Alison broke off the relationship, Al Almin started a vicious and calculated stalking campaign against both Alison and her parents resulting in him being arrested at the hospital where Alison worked. Having already set fire to the Hewitt’s home, when he was caught, he was armed with a crossbow and had a van with various restraint items inside
Judge Charles Kemp who prosecuted Al Almin said: “You showed a deliberate and chilling degree of organisation and planning. You have tried to put the blame on drink and drugs that you were consuming at the time. That is no excuse.”
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Speaking about the case, Alison’s mother Pam said: “We will be forever grateful to Tony for the information and support he gave us. I am convinced that Tony helped save my daughter’s life and probably mine as well. The police could not get the information I desperately needed but, thankfully, Tony stepped in and confirmed my worst suspicions”.
“Tony was able to get the facts I needed so that my daughter could make an informed decision regarding her relationship. I knew he was dangerous and would probably break her heart but needed some reliable evidence to warn her – this is the point at which Tony came to our rescue.”
Through Tony’s work, Alison was able to remove herself from the relationship and Al Amin’s true character came out. Unfortunately, this is just one of the many cases our team have assisted in over the years. Despite the introduction of Stalking Protection Orders in 2020, these often aren’t enough to protect women and so private investigators are often hired to assist in situations by either the individual themselves or their family.
If you have concerns, or anything in the documentary has made you think that certain behaviours you’re witnessing aren’t quite right, then have a quick look at our information on stalker investigations and what to do if you believe you are being stalked.
Sometimes this behaviour can be even more subtle and we’ve also set out information on how to prevent online stalking, which is another serious form of harassment which can cause great distress.
If you are worried for your own personal safety or you have concerns about a new partner in a loved one’s life, then you can contact us on the number below or use our contact form here for a free consultation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We will connect you with one of our specialist team who handle matters such as this with every sensitivity, and of course in the strictest confidence.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
However, if you feel you are in immediate danger you should contact the police or contact one of the following helplines:
https://www.gov.uk/report-stalker
https://www.suzylamplugh.org/pages/category/national-stalking-helpline
https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/stalking-and-harassment/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-18651008
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Private Investigators around the world 11 Oct 2021 1:29 AM (3 years ago)
We’ve looked previously at the ins and outs of the private investigation world, identifying what private investigators can and can’t do in the UK – but what do international private investigators look like from around the world!
As with anything, the regulations and laws surrounding private investigation vary greatly from country to country. Here in the UK both being a private investigator and hiring one are completely legal.
Regulation of the private investigation industry in the UK is something that the government has been working towards for many years, and something that we at Insight Investigations are in full support of.
However, for now, we are an industry that must self-regulate. There are a number of trade bodies which help to govern the world of private investigators such as WAPI – The world Association of Professional Investigators. IPI – The Institute of Professional Investigators and ABI- The Association of British Investigators. Becoming a member of one of these bodies means that you sign up to a strict code of ethics and conduct and you are held accountable by a panel of your peers in the industry.
It’s these bodies which ensure their members act within the parameters of the law and that investigators provide a certain level of service to their clients.
There are of course Private Investigators that are not aligned to any trade body, or association, but the activities they engage in are still controlled by UK law.
Other than self-regulation and to register with The Data Protection Office, there is no other legal requirement to become an investigator, unlike other countries which are incredibly strict around the requirements needed to operate in this field.
Although Insight Investigations is part of one of the leading trade bodies, WAPI, the agency is in full support of introducing licencing to the industry to protect clients from rogue traders who can sometimes take advantage of highly emotional and sensitive situations where real answers are needed.
One of the key benefits of being part of the World Association of Private Investigators (WAPI) is the ability to be part of a global network of investigators. This network enables Insight to operate on a global level using connections and relationships with investigators in other parts of the world to get to the truth of a situation for our clients.
Even if that situation spans multiple countries, and takes our investigators overseas to assist in the case management of an investigation with local & licensed investigators. Our network of investigators globally means that our specialist teams at Insight have a broad knowledge of the global landscape – understanding the regulations and laws from many countries. One thing that remains a fact across all countries is that the perception of private investigators, in comparison to the reality of the industry is most often off the mark.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
THE USA
Despite what TV shows will tell you, the USA is one of the toughest countries in which to operate as a private investigator. The first complexity to becoming a private investigator in America is that every state has different requirements, so 50 different laws and regulations. In the US it is most common to become an investigator in the state where you are a resident, once you have that licence you can then build on your background and experience from work in your home state to apply for additional licences in other states.
The route to becoming an investigator in the majority of US states is quite similar, you need to meet standard requirement such as age and then take a government approved licensing course. This course then allows you to obtain a ‘PI under supervision’ licence, similar to a provisional driving licence. It means you must work loosely with a fully licenced PI. Only once you have completed 2,400 hours of experience will you qualify for your full private investigator licence, that’s a huge 320 days and 1.2 years with no holidays.
SPAIN
Another part of the world where being a private investigator is a lot more complex is Spain. Spanish investigators must have a degree to practice and furthermore a corresponding licence must be obtained which can only be issued by the Directorate General of Police. The degree obtained must be a diploma in private investigation from a criminology institute or other schools recognised by the Ministry of the Interior.
In a particular region in Spain, Catalonia, there is another hurdle to becoming an investigator, whereby only those affiliated with existing investigators can work in the field
When UK investigators find themselves in Spain during a case, either following a subject or investigating a lead, they must be extremely careful. Spanish law dictates that they must have the equivalent knowledge to those with licences granted in the country as well as a level of training and skill combined with sufficient knowledge of the Spanish language and laws. Unsurprising then that private investigators in Spain are some of the most highly valued in the EU.
SAUDI ARABIA & CHINA
Despite the complexities of Spain and the USA, investigators are legally allowed to operate as long as they take the right steps to becoming trained and licenced. This is far from the case in Saudi Arabia and China, arguably the most hostile countries towards private investigators and where the industry is completely banned. China took the decision to ban private investigation in 1993 after a huge spike in cases and use of private firms.
Similarly, services of this nature are illegal in Saudi Arabia but that’s not to say that private investigators can’t be hired to investigate corporate issues or often adultery. What can often be the case is that investigation agencies in neighbouring countries are appointed to investigate cases which can be highly risky for both the investigator and the client.
IRELAND
Looking at somewhere slightly closer to home Ireland, where in November 2015 it became illegal to employ a Private Investigator who was not licensed. It is also illegal for a foreign investigator to conduct an investigation in Ireland without first gaining a licence.
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All of these international complexities make being a member of The World Association of Professional Investigators (W.A.P.I) an integral part of Insight.
Insight Investigations has been part of the World Association of Professional Investigators for over 18 years and it’s this global perspective and network of contacts that enable us to be a truly global operator.
If you would like to discuss a case with international components – please call one of our specialist international investigations team on the number below or use our contact form 24/7 for a free consultation.
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The evolving tactics of internet scammers 30 Sep 2021 8:21 AM (3 years ago)
At Insight Investigations we are consistently monitoring the evolving tactics of internet scammers in order for our specialist team to provide the right support to our clients when the worst does happen.
We recently looked at “how to spot a COVID scam” where our specialist online fraud team outlined some of the most common scams on the rise during and post pandemic, and also a specific look at “the rise of internet dating scams” which looks more closely at the tactics used by those using the heart as a way into someone’s finances.
Six months on, we are in full swing of our ‘new normal’ as we adapt to a post pandemic world. As the world starts to return to some form of normality, one of the things that has also changed is the way online fraudsters convince people to separate with their money.
Looking at the online fraud cases that our team of Investigators have assisted in over the past six months, we’ve outlined some of the new tactics and updated methods which are being adopted.
The one thing that doesn’t change with internet scams is the breadth of scams and the variety in victims. Many feel that they would never fall victim to a scam of this nature, however what we see here at Insight Investigations is that anyone, irrelevant of age, gender or background can be targeted by fraudsters.
What also remains true is that the use of digital tools, whether that be dating sites or apps, socialising through social media and even shopping online has created even more opportunity for fraudsters. Criminals of this nature seem to be becoming increasingly intelligent and with lessening scruples or morals.
Any particular scammer will ‘run’ several scams at the same time using different names and will have heavily researched, deeply personal files on those he, or she, is targeting.
They will have a wealth of forged documents at their disposal from passports, driving licences and identify cards, through to letters from barristers, solicitors and private companies.
In fact almost any documents can be forged and coupled together with convincing back stories enable them to pass a degree of investigation.
Here at Insight Investigations we are skilled in examining such fraudulent matters and can advise on whether the person you are in communication with is legitimate or not.
Several genres of scams have emerged recently some of which are listed below……
The 419
The 419 is an advance fee scam which originated in Nigeria and is also where it gets its namesake – from the article of the Nigerian Criminal Code which deals with fraud. The 419 scam targets individuals via email, telephone or social media asking for payment to be sent, or ‘advanced payment’ with the promise of a huge financial pay out.
The marriage scam
This is where fraudsters spend months priming their victims with romance and then use a promise of marriage to convince victims to part with their money, claiming the money is needed for the relationship to continue.
The intimate blackmail scam
Romance scams can often turn to blackmail if intimate pictures have been exchanged. Once scammers are ‘caught’ they can often threaten to release images and videos to friends, family and even employers. This threat can even be used to obtain even more funds from the victim.
The lottery/beneficiary scam
The lure of a huge payday can make the most savvy of people put their hesitance aside and fall victim to a scam. People are often asked to pay fees to redeem prizes supposedly won in a sweepstake or left to them as an inheritance.
The diamond & gold scam
The purchase of illegal diamonds and or gold and in some cases even bonds by scammers, and then offering money in return for helping them transport to the UK.
A very simple scam which has been around for many years and with the price of precious metals and diamonds sky- rocketing post pandemic, the scam has once again become very topical.
Should you wish us to examine, in complete confidence, the person you’re in a relationship with or simply just communicating with them you can call one of our specialist team on the below number or use our contact form.
Find out the truth today – arrange a confidential consultation.
The below hints and tips are often useful when looking at your situation to determine whether you are potentially falling victim to a scammer.
- Do not give out information about yourself to anybody you don’t know or trust
- Never respond to any communication that you don’t know the source of
- Be cautious of stories you are told by people you have never met, even if you are in an online relationship with that person
- Above all, never send money or disclose your banking details to anyone you do not know well
- Never part with your money until you are sure the business or organisation is genuine
- Do not take part in any transaction that seems dubious or which you wouldn’t feel comfortable discussing with friends or family
If you have any suspicions before you part with your money or you wish to investigate fully who you are communicating with, the Insight team are happy to look at your case by conducting a background enquiry.
This type of investigation enables us to establish who you are dealing with and if they are genuine or fake, regardless of documents they have sent you to verify who they are.
Our increasing reliance on technology and the amount of communication we now receive from legitimate sources, through digital channels, means that we are almost desensitised to suspicious emails.
It can be incredibly easy to see an email from what looks like a legitimate source such as HMRC, Apple or your energy company and believe them to be the real deal – emails of this nature can be made to look very convincing.
The specialist team at Insight can check out emails or documents to check their validity and help you to stay safe simply call us on the number below or use our contact form 24/7 for a free consultation.
24/7 Help & Advice
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